Staff
DinA castelluccio(Director)
Dina Castelluccio began her training in Connecticut at the Stratford Center for the Performing Arts. She went on to train at CT Dance Conservatory, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and Dance New Amsterdam, where she trained with top NYC teachers. Dina is co-founder and artistic director of a contemporary company, Clarity in Motion, which has presented Falling Awake and Glass Houses. Her work as also been seen on stage at the Shakespeare Festival, as well as the Joyce Theater in NYC. She directed the musical theater show Broadway Babes and has performed in Broadway in the Park. She was a member of Millennium Dance Company for a year and a half, under the direction of Devin Pulls at Perri Studios, NYC. Dina has judged at numerous cities for the dance competition, National Dance showcase as well as taught master classes at their national convention. After living in New York City for 6 years as a professional dancer, she is now pursuing her career in Los Angeles. She teaches throughout the Los Angeles County area and continues to teach and choreograph throughout Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Dina has won numerous choreography awards and her work as been asked to perform at The Battle of the Stars, Star Power National Talent Competition. Dina’s performing credits include, Fefe Dobson’s music video Boy Friend, “The View” for Hilary Duff and Nelly Furtatdo, as well as The International Dance Gala in NYC. |
Karen Nerkowski(Director)
Karen Nerkowski began her dance training in Connecticut and earned her BFA in Dance Performance and Elementary Education at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. She has been teaching and producing award-winning choreography in the Tri-state area for 12 years. In addition to her teaching, Karen is co-director of the professional company CIM dance, which is based out of NYC/L.A. Karen’s choreography has been presented at The Joyce Theater/Dancin’ Dowtown at the Joyce (NYC), Shakespeare Arts Festival (CT), Uptown Performance Series (NYC) and several showcases/evening length performances around NYC and CT including: Stratford Theatre (CT) and Bridge For Dance (NYC). Karen’s philosophy stems from her love of dance and the belief that all students have the ability to become dancers given the right tools and instruction. Karen motivates her students with the promise that with hard work, repetition, an open mind and a sense of humor anything is possible! |
Rae-Ann thomas(Company Director)
Rae-Ann Thomas was raised in Massachusetts and began dancing at a young age. She is a graduate from Dean College receiving a Bachelorette of Arts degree in Dance and an Associates degree in Business. Directly after college she moved to New York; where she has lived for 5 years. Rae-Ann is teaching and setting choreography at various studios throughout the east coast. She judges for competitions all over the country and even internationally. While hustling in New York City Rae-Ann has gained knowledge about the dance industry through her consistent training in diverse styles. Rae-Ann has performed for choreographers such as Mike Esperanza, Teddy Tedholm, Bonnie O’Rourke, Ellie Sanna, Bryn Cohen, Chris Hale, Calen Kurka, Kristin Sudekis, Hannah Frederick, Rachel Hettinger, Sarah Richman and is a member of TedTed Performance Company, under the direction of Teddy Tedholm. Rae-Ann has presented work at showcases such as HATCH: presenting series, Pushing Progress, The Young Choreographers Festival, and Sans Limits Dance Series. Rae-Ann has also set work as an alumni for the Dean College Dance Department for many shows. Rae-Ann was apart of a winter residency at Salve Regina University teaching master classes as well as setting work for their spring concert. Rae-Ann has participated in the Gypsy Project LA a vigor improvisational base training program in Los Angeles in 2017. Rae-Ann was one of 23 dancers working along side rebounded named dancers and choreographer in the dance industry such as, Tilman O’Donnell, David Harvey, Medhi Walerski, Meg Lawson, Tom Weinberger, Lisette Bustamante, Jillian Meyers, Staci Flood-popp, and under the direction of Erica Sobol founder and creator of the Gypsy Project LA and Lobos art collective. Rae-Ann is a bright and optimistic person who brings positive energy into her work. Her taste for lightness, and comedic accents make her work relatable and unique. She hopes to inspire and motivate all humans with her distinct movement style. |
maria cherniskeIn addition to being a performer, Maria has taught dance to students of all ages for the past eighteen years. Following college, Maria continued her dance education at the Broadway Dance Center in New York where she is a guest instructor. She has trained closely under renowned teachers such as Rhapsody James, Luam Keflezgy, James Jackson Jr., Carlos Neto, Lisette Bustamante, Chonique Sneed and Dana Foglia.
Maria works with students of all ages and levels. She travels internationally to teach. In 2012 Maria was selected to be a mentor for the program Creating Opportunities (www.creatingopps.com) developed by world-renowned choreographers Lisette Bustamante and Chonique Sneed. Maria holds a B.A. in Psychology and Masters in Reading Education. She also holds a Connecticut Teaching Certificate and is certified through Fitness, Gymnastics and Acro federations (listed below). - AFAA Group Fitness Certified - bodyART Certified Instructor - Adult and Pediatric First Aid, CPR and AED certified - ACRO levels 1-6 through USA Gymnastics - USA Gymnastics Safety Certified - Artistic Gymnastics Coach - State of Connecticut Certified Coach |
kelly kaletaGrowing up in Easthampton, MA, Kelly Kaleta began her training at the Hackworth’s School of Performing Arts and started teaching while she was attending Boston University. Focusing in tap, she has taught up and down the east coast and Canada for almost 20 years, choreographing, judging, and performing in many different venues. She is a founding member of “Off Beat,” a company created and directed by her former student Ryan P. Casey, as well as starting her own company “CounterpoinT,” an all female group based out of Norwalk, CT. You can also see her and her choreography in the award-winning movie “Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench” directed by Damien Chazelle (La La Land). In 2006, she was a cast member of “Imagine Tap,” created and choreographed by Derick Grant and Aaron Tolson. She has been a faculty member and judge for Tap 2 You, Dance Masters of America, American Dance Awards, Tapademics and Kids for Kids. She has taught at Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and Peridance in NYC. Other past performances include the Cape Dance Fest, Inside Out at Jacob’s Pillow, NYC Tap Festival, Break the Floor, Clara’s Dream: A Jazz Tap Nutcracker - performing with Drika Overton, Josh Hilberman, and Brenda Buffalino, Tapestry - produced by Dance Inn Productions, and others. Her own annual event, Tap it Up, is a one day workshop held every October in Stratford, CT. Believing that you never stop being a student, she continues to take classes and workshops to improve both her dancing and her teaching.
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sidney choothesaSidney Choothesa is a dance instructor, choreographer, and performer originally from Bridgeport, CT. She grew up training at CT Dance Conservatory where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern,and hip hop. Sidney continued her dance training in Sacred Heart University’s Dance Company’s Professional Track. While in the dance program at SHU, Sidney was able to work closely with professionals such as Mike Esperanza, along with BARE dance company, Phil Orsano, Jesse Obremski, Matthew Westerby, Tiffanie Carson, and Tommy Scrivens. Through the SHU dance program she was also able to travel to Italy to dance and perform for the World Dance Movement where she won two scholarships from Michele Assaf and Desmond Richardson. Sidney also gained the opportunity to be a featured dancer in two musicals put on by SHU’s Theater Arts Program which are, “In the Heights” and “Hair”. After college, she taught at Sacred Heart University for the dance program and choreographed numerous pieces. Sidney is currently a dance instructor and choreographer for CT Dance Conservatory and a company member for “Matthew Westerby Company” where she continues to perform in numerous shows based in New York City.
Degrees and Certifications: BA in Media Arts Minor in Dance, Sacred Heart University NAdine deLoughy |
As a dancer for over twenty years, Nadine DeLoughy, ATC, has trained in multiple genres of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and acrobatics, and was a competitive dancer for fifteen years. After graduating from Newtown High School in Connecticut, Nadine
continued her dance education with Pushing Progress, a contemporary dance company based in New York City under the direction of Calen J Kurka and Chris Hale. After her training and performances with the company, Nadine attended Southern Connecticut State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science - Athletic Training degree and is a licensed practitioner in the state of CT. Nadine is now teaching and choreographing multiple genres of dance throughout the tri-state area, and now midwest as a guest choreographer for Dance Plus in Bismarck, North Dakota. Her choreography has won numerous first-place overall awards and choreographic recognitions. Nadine’s routines also placed in the Top 12 at YAGP Regionals and were invited to compete at the Dance Prix de New York. Nadine continues her education through training programs such as ABT’s National Training Curriculum and Acrobatic Arts. She also has recently started adjudicating competitions in the regional area. Nadine chooses to take an anatomical approach to teaching by educating dancers on how to move their bodies safely and biomechanically while instilling their love of dance and movement. |
Sara RenstromSara began dancing at a local Connecticut studio at the age of 4 where she trained for 14 years. There she was an assistant teacher for seven years and a member of their competition company for six years. Sara graduated from the Dean College School of Dance where she participated in numerous dance performances over her four years there. Additionally, Sara is an alumna of The Ailey School Summer Intensive and Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester. Throughout and following college, she taught and choreographed at local studios for their recreational and competition teams. For almost ten years, she was living and working full time in NYC while continuing her training at various studios in the city. Sara wanted to be a dance teacher from a young age and is thrilled to be back teaching in a studio environment. She strives to push dancers to their fullest potential and highlight their strengths in her choreography.
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Noel BernardNoel V. Bernard is currently attending Fordham University in New York City. He studied dance at CT Dance Conservatory in Stratford, CT, where he teaches dance classes for adolescent, intermediate dancers. He excels in ballet, tap, and contemporary dance. Now has received scholarships to attend the American Ballet Theater (ABT) summer intensives and Joffrey Ballet summer program. In 2012, he performed in NYC at the going away celebration for Remy Charlip, celebrated performer and co-founder of the Paper Bag Players. He has also done walk-on performances at the Stratford Shakespeare Theater.
Jen TureyJen Turey's professional performing experience includes the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular as a Rockette, touring throughout the US, Canada and Europe with the Broadway National and International tours of 42nd Street, Crazy for You and The Will Rogers Follies and regionally at Northshore Music Theatre, The Cape Playhouse, Westchester Broadway Theatre, The Reagle Players and The Shubert Theatre in New Haven, CT. Her professional choreography career has brought her to the Weston Playhouse, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, The Reagle Players, Richter Park and WCSU where she is also an adjunct professor. Jen also holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts with an Acting concentration from Hunter College, an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College, and is a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. She has taught at Broadway Dance Center, Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Dance Teacher United, Norwalk Metropolitan Youth Ballet, and Dance Etc. Jen adjudicates dance competitions all over the country and is also a certified Progressing Ballet Technique, Rhythm Works, and Acrobatic Arts instructor.
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Kendra AlexanderI was born and raised in the small town of Savannah, Tennessee. I started dance at the age of 5 under the training and direction of Brandi Franks. During this training, I was immersed in all genres of dance such as ballet, tap, jazz, HipHop, contemporary, lyrical, and musical theatre. By age 10, I had won a scholarship to the Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, California. This experience helped me realize that dance is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Continuing to experience the dance convention world, my career started to blossom when, at the age of 12, I won the national title of Elite Protege from The Pulse on Tour in a piece choreographed by Tucker Barkley. Getting to assist and train with some of the biggest choreographers in the industry took me to the next level and provided many great opportunities. From performing Brian Friedman’s Til the World Ends by Britney Spears music video choreography, to performing in Tyce Diorio’s America’s Got Talent piece, I built long lasting relationships and enhanced my dancing experience. After receiving my first national title with The Pulse, I won my second national title, the Assistant Teacher Award from Co. Dance. Once I started touring with Co. Dance in 2013, I worked my way up from an Apprentice to being inducted into Co. Dance’s Hall of Fame. At Co. Dance, I assisted top choreographers such as Gregg Russell, Barry Youngblood, Tucker Barkley and Nick Florez. After touring with Co. Dance and reaching the end of high school, I was accepted into the Dance Department at The University of Alabama, where I would continue my dance education and earn my Bachelor of Arts degree. While going to school, I started to branch out and choreograph for studios across the country where I have continuously won numerous Best in Choreograhy awards, while also continuing to assist choreographers from the conventions I previously toured on. After graduating in 2017, I decided to move to New York City as the next step in my pursuit of becoming a professional dancer. Since moving to New York, I have enhanced my dancing experience by joining 3 professional companies, performing as a backup dancer for many artists around the city, completing the 7-week Instructor training program, and developing concept videos with choreographers. I also accepted an assistant choreographer’s job with Emmy-nominated and industry legend, Gregg Russell, and have kept up my dance training by taking classes at Broadway Dance Center and Peridance. |